A Barguna court on Tuesday sentenced six juvenile accused to 10 years of imprisonment, four to five years of imprisonment and one other to three years of imprisonment in the sensational Rifat Sharif murder case.
Judge Hafizur Rahman of the Barguna Children's Court passed the order in presence of all juvenile accused in the case.
The court also acquitted three other accused in the case as the prosecution failed to produce enough evidence against them.
Earlier on October 14, Judge Hafizur Rahman set today for delivering the verdict after concluding arguments from both the prosecution and defence lawyers.
Those who get 10 years imprisonment are- Rashidul Hasan Rishan Faraji, 17, Md Rakibul Hasan Rifat Hawlader, 15, Md Abu Abdullah Raihan, 16, Md Oliullah Oli, 16, Md Naim, 17, Md Tanvir Hossain, 17.
Those who get five years imprisonment are- Joy Chandra Sarker alias Chandan, 17, Nazmul Hasan, 14, Rakibul Hasan Niamat, 15, Md Saiyed Maruf Billah Mohibullah, 17.
Only Prince Molla, 15, sentenced to three years in jail.
Moreover, Maruf Mallik, 17, Ratul Shikdar Joy, 16, and Aryan Hossain Srabon, 16 were acquitted by the court.
All the 14 accused were produced before court today morning.
According to court sources, a total of 74 witnesses testified against the 14 accused.
On September 30, six people including Ayesha Siddiqua Minni, wife of murdered youth Rifat Sharif, were sentenced to death by the Barguna District and Sessions Judges’ Court, while four others were acquitted in the case.
Rifat, 22, was mercilessly hacked on June 26 last year by a group of individuals in broad daylight in Barguna town, even as his wife Minni tried to save him. He died at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital later in the evening.
The next day, Rifat’s father filed a murders case with the Barguna sadar police station.
On September 1 the same year, police submitted two separate charge-sheets against Minni and 23 others, including 10 adults and 14 juveniles.
On January 8, 2020, Judge Hafizur Rahman framed charges against 14 juvenile accused after concluding the hearing of defence and prosecution lawyers.
The trial proceeding of the murder case was halted earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Court resumed judicial proceedings on August 10 after five months of suspension.
BDST: 1305 HRS, OCT 27, 2020
AP
